<b><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/awesome-xylophone/id423063965?mt=8">Awesome Xylophone</a>: </b>Entertain your toddler for free. <br> <b>Great for:</b> Parents and caretakers desperate to entertain babies/toddlers.<br><b>Cost:</b> Free<br><b>Why Awesome Xylophone is great:</b>The app sends real Xylophones to the bulging heap of Stuff No Longer Necessary because it turns the iPad into a fully functional Xylophone belting out sound to both the unskilled tapping and masterful smacking of the average human toddler.<br><b> Beware:</b>If the kid likes it, you may also need to invest in earplugs and be wary of the moment when the little one tries to eat the $500+ Xylophone. The app also features ads that can pop up from time to time and can get in the way.TEXT BY IAN HAMILTON

Awesome Xylophone: Entertain your toddler for free. Great for: Parents and caretakers desperate to entertain babies/toddlers.Cost: FreeWhy Awesome Xylophone is great:The app sends real Xylophones to the bulging heap of Stuff No Longer Necessary because it turns the iPad into a fully functional Xylophone belting out sound to both the unskilled tapping and masterful smacking of the average human toddler. Beware:If the kid likes it, you may also need to invest in earplugs and be wary of the moment when the little one tries to eat the $500+ Xylophone. The app also features ads that can pop up from time to time and can get in the way. TEXT BY IAN HAMILTONFind My iPhone: Know where your family is...alwaysGreat for: Caring or overbearing family membersCost: Free TEXT BY IAN HAMILTONWhy Find My iPhone is great: You have to give up your privacy but, for peace of mind, the app, can be an incredibly useful tool for families. It's free to use on iPhone 4, iPad or the most recent iPod Touch and allows you to track the location of the device in question. iPhone and iPad 3G owners can find out exactly where a family member is at any time, force the device in question to ring loudly even if it's on silent or display a message on the screen like "CALL MOM." It can even be used to wipe everything on the particular gadget if it's stolen or you want to be really mean to a teenager. Beware: If the device is Wi-Fi-only (like the iPod and many iPads) that means Find My iPhone can only work when connected to Wi-Fi. TEXT BY IAN HAMILTONPandora: Say goodbye to radioGreat for: Absolutely everyoneCost: Free (there are ads, but you can remove if you pay) TEXT BY IAN HAMILTONWhy Pandora is great: Pandora is radio for the 21st century and if you haven't tried it out already it's time. You name a song or artist you like and Pandora serves up similar music, providing an instant, personalized radio station. If you don't like a song you can give it a thumbs down and you're onto the next one. If you like the song you give it a thumbs up and the app starts to learn what you like and dislike.Beware: The most disappointing feature of Pandora is that it limits the number of songs you can fast forward through. There are ads but you can remove them if you pay. TEXT BY IAN HAMILTONPulse: Volume One: Rhythm without the stupid guitarGreat for: Wasting time and loving every minute of itCost: $5 TEXT BY IAN HAMILTONWhy Pulse: Volume One is great: This is a perfectly executed rhythm game that has you tapping your way along to beautiful little melodies rather than strumming on a plastic guitar like an idiot in “Guitar Hero.” It features gorgeous animations that accompany each correct tap and the songs get difficult quickly, requiring you to invoke multiple fingers to keep up.Beware: There aren't many songs in this first volume. TEXT BY IAN HAMILTONTED: Expanding minds in less than 20 minutesGreat for: Anyone with a little down timeCost: FreeTEXT BY IAN HAMILTONTED Why it's great: TED talks are held at a series of conferences each year and feature speakers sharing fascinating ideas about pretty much everything in less than 20 minutes. While sometimes controversial, the talks are consistently interesting, whether it be Bill Gates unleashing mosquitoes on the audience or an MIT researcher who recorded thousands of hours of audio in his house to capture how we learn language, recording and showing how his infant son turned the word “Gaaaaa” into “Water.” TEXT BY IAN HAMILTONTEDBeware:You can save talks so you can view them when offline, but just be sure to do that before you go somewhere without consistent Internet access. TEXT BY IAN HAMILTON

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